A NEW YEAR UPDATE AND BLESSINGS

FROM FATHER ANDREW

In today's video, Father Andrew extends blessings for the New Year to all beloved members of St. Gregory's. He invites you to start the year at Sunday's Sunrise Beach Eucharist at 6:30 am at Palmetto Park Road and A1A. The Sunrise service will be followed by a beach cleanup. Regular worship services will continue at 8 am, 10 am, and 6 pm. He warmly reminds us of the annual meeting on January 28th. Additionally, everyone is invited to a special gathering the Saturday before the annual meeting for those interested in contributing to church growth, evangelism, and messaging.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

"And the Children Shall Lead Them..."

As we joyously celebrated Christmas in our newly renovated sanctuary and holy space, I was particularly mindful of the leadership of our children and the difference that they make. On our reentry into the church on December 17, the children surrounded the Advent Wreath and lit the Advent Candle. At our 4 pm Christmas Eve service, which always features the children's pageant, our children and youth led us in worship. They told the unfolding Christmas Story with beauty and grace. The entrance of the young angels has to be one of my favorite moments of our worship year! You may even have noticed that one of our first-year college students—David Hall—helped with the pageant. Many thanks to Anna Thomas and her ministry team for organizing the pageant. At the 4 pm service, our newly formed Children's Choristers sang at the time of the Offertory. What a special joy to hear their young voices in our church. We're so pleased with the growth of this ministry under the leadership of Emily Carter and Tim Brumfield. 

I am reminded that our children and youth are not the future of the church, they are the church. And they are leading us. Thanks be to God!

In Christ,

Andrew+

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MANY THANKS FROM THE SHERMAN FAMILY!

Dear Friends,

Once again you have touched and delighted us this Christmas season with so many well wishes, cards and treats! We are so grateful for your thoughtfulness but even more so that you are part of our family at St Gregory’s. 

Thank you cards are on the way (slowly but surely!). If you sent us a treat but don’t receive a note from us in the next few weeks, please reach out to us. In the joyful rumpus of Christmas, cards and gifts sometimes become separated!

May God bless you abundantly in the year to come!

With much love and gratitude from

Andrew+, Anita, Susamma, Jacob and Hannah 

SUNRISE BEACH EUCHARIST

AND BEACH CLEANUP

Sunday, January 7 at 6:30 AM

Join us at 6:30 AM this Sunday, January 7 at South Beach Park (located at Palmetto Park Road and A1A) for the first Sunrise Beach Eucharist of the new year. A Beach Cleanup will follow the service. (See below).

BEACH CLEANUP FOLLOWING THE

SUNRISE BEACH EUCHARIST

Sunday, January 7

Following the Beach Eucharist, you are warmly invited to join us for fellowship, donuts, orange juice, and a Beach Cleanup (at South Beach Park located at Palmetto Park Road and A1A). Help us take care of our beloved beach!

MOMMY & ME INFO SESSION

Sunday, January 7 at 9:15 AM

St. Gregory’s is restarting its “Mommy and Me” group! Interested Moms will meet on Sunday, January 7 at 9:15 AM in Harris Hall. If you're interested, please come for the info session, meet new friends, and make new connections!

SPECIAL NEW YEAR & EPIPHANY

GATHERING FOR ALL CHILDREN

This Sunday, January 7 at 9:45 AM

This Sunday, Jan 7, we will have a special gathering with activities to welcome the new year and to celebrate the start of the Season of Epiphany for children in 5th grade and under. Teens are invited to assist and participate as well. Please come to the Godly Play room (upstairs, Harris Hall) at 9:45 am. We will conclude in time to join everyone for Communion in the church. Many thanks to Silvia Hall for coordinating this event!

NEED A LITTLE EXTRA SPACE OR ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICES?

To ensure our services are accessible and comfortable for everyone, we have now designated spaces specifically for members of our congregation who use mobility devices such as wheelchairs or walkers. These areas are designed to provide extra room, ensuring full participation in our services for everyone. If you require assistance upon arrival, please don't hesitate to ask an usher for help.

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH SURVEY

Please Share Your Opinion

The deadline is tomorrow!

The Bishop's office has created a brief survey to gather insights from parishes across the Diocese, and your participation would be immensely valuable. The survey is designed to be concise and will take no more than 15 minutes to complete. Please submit your responses by Friday, January 5, 2024.

Access the survey here: Survey Link

All responses will be kept anonymous, and no personal information will be collected unless you choose to provide it in the comment fields. We thank you in advance for your valuable input and for helping to make this project a success.

NEW CCFL COURSES FOR

THE WINTER 2024 EPIPHANY TERM

Hurry! Registration Ends Soon!

For the Epiphany Quarter Term (January 16 through March 22, 2024), the CCFL will offer two new courses: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible: Former Prophets (OT/HB-102)

with Dr. Paul Cizek, Ph.D.

Wednesdays @ 7 pm Eastern via Zoom

An introduction to the Former Prophets (the Books of Joshua, Judges, 1–2 Samuel, and 1–2 Kings), with attention paid to their historical context, theological themes, and their place in the Revised Common Lectionary, as well as to the interpretation of Hebrew Bible prose literature. This course is especially important for students who wish to pursue the process for discernment for leadership and for students approved to participate in the process for diaconal formation. This course is a prerequisite for OT/HB-201.

Episcopal Polity and Culture (AS-102)

with the Rev. Dr. Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook, Ph.D.

Thursdays @ 7 pm Eastern via Zoom

In this course, students will learn how the Episcopal Church, USA, is structured and governed. Special emphasis will be given to how the Episcopal Church makes important ecclesiastical decisions, the role and authority of bishops, the role and authority of the laity, the role and authority of the clergy, and the function of church councils (especially General Convention) and canons (ecclesiastical law) in the life of the church. This course is required for students who wish to participate in the process for diaconal formation.

AN UPDATE FROM

FR. ANDREW AND THE VESTRY

On the 2023/24 Stewardship Campaign

Thank you to those members who have made their financial commitment to St. Gregory's. If you have not yet made your financial commitment, please visit our online pledge page at stgregorysepiscopal.org/pledge or contact the church office at office@st-gregorys.com to make your commitment. We invite your prayers for our stewardship campaign.

With Gratitude,

Father Andrew, Bill Lintz, Stewardship Chair, and the Vestry Team.

EVERY RIVEN THING

“God goes, belonging to every riven thing he’s made

sing his being simply by being

the thing it is:

stone and tree and sky,

man who sees and sings and wonders why

God goes. Belonging, to every riven thing he’s made,

means a storm of peace.

Think of the atoms inside the stone.

Think of the man who sits alone

trying to will himself into a stillness where

God goes belonging. To every riven thing he’s made

there is given one shade

shaped exactly to the thing itself:

under the tree a darker tree;

under the man the only man to see

God goes belonging to every riven thing. He’s made

the things that bring him near,

made the mind that makes him go.

A part of what man knows,

apart from what man knows,

God goes belonging to every riven thing he’s made.”

-Christian Wiman

Happy New Year,

- Benjamin+

A MESSAGE FROM TIM

Music Ministry

Happy New Year!! As I begin 2024, my heart is full of gratitude.

As we celebrate Epiphany, I’m still on a high from our Christmas celebrations over the last two weeks. I want to thank everyone who gave so generously to support our Christmas music. You helped to make it all possible! From our rehearsals to our Lessons and Carols and Christ Mass, and Christmas Day, your gifts enabled the music budget to breathe a bit easier!

Much thanks also to our incredible Choir of St. Gregory’s for their beautiful music-making and dedication to their craft and to their church. I am so grateful for each member as I find it to be a great privilege to work with them and to make music together on a weekly and, sometimes, daily basis.

I am also thrilled to announce that we will be acquiring new vestments! We have been gifted a monetary amount to cover the costs of new surplices which will replace those currently in use by the choir. The surplice is the white overlay which is worn over the cassock. Our current ones are old and worn and desperately need replacement and I’m so deeply grateful to Sid Jacoby and Wendy McHugh, and Tom and Cassandra Hancock for making this possible. Our new surplices will further enhance our worship experience with beauty and dignity.

I want to thank our wonderful Choristers who sang so beautifully at the 4 PM Christmas Eve Pageant and my Music Assistant Emily Carter for her superb direction! Many thanks also to the parents who are dedicated to bringing their child to rehearsals each Thursday! If you would like more information about our Choristers or your child is interested in singing with us, please contact me!



I hope you’ll join me in gratitude for all the many blessings God has bestowed upon St. Gregory’s during 2023 and for all the blessings we’ve yet to experience in 2024!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!

Tim

A COMMUNION MEDITATION

PIANO SOLO ON CHRISTMAS DAY

By Tim Brumfield

Enjoy these last two days of Christmas with Tim Brumfield as he plays a Fantasy Improvisation on the carols “Il le nest le Divine Infant” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" "The Holy and the Ivy" and “Away in a Manger”. This piano meditation was performed at the Christmas Day morning service.

FINANCIAL MANAGER/BOOKKEEPER

For St. Gregory's Church Office

St. Gregory's is currently seeking a dedicated Financial Manager/Bookkeeper to join our team. Under the guidance of the Rector and Parish Administrator, this pivotal role offers administrative and financial support, aiding the staff, congregation, and volunteers in our church’s ministries and mission.

Key Details:

• Hours: The position requires 25-30 hours per week, with a flexible schedule to be arranged in collaboration with the Parish Administrator.
• Education: A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business with an emphasis on non-profit accounting is preferred. Alternatively, a combination of relevant education, training, and experience will be considered.
• Experience: Applicants should have a strong understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, practices, and methods, including payroll platforms.
• Skills: Proficiency in Advanced QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, and database management is essential.

Interested candidates are encouraged to reach out to Father Andrew or Kristen Chaney, our Parish Administrator, for further information. Click here for the detailed job description. Join us in our mission at St. Gregory's and contribute to our vibrant community.

A CASE FOR LOVE DOCUMENTARY

Watch this Important Film on January 23rd

"A Case For Love" - A different kind of film, a different kind of story. A journey of exploration in troubling times. This is the first in a series of projects aimed at changing the national narrative of division.

“A Case for Love” is inspired by the teachings and writings of Bishop Michael Curry, most well-known for his passionate sermon about “The Power of Love” at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. This documentary examines the question of whether or not love, specifically, unselfish love, is the solution to the extreme societal and political divide facing the world.

In the documentary, the film team travels across the US, interviewing everyday people from various walks of life and ethnicities, striving to live their lives selflessly. These stories are interwoven with hundreds of person-on-the-street interviews while well-known figures including Pete Buttigieg, Al Roker, Sam Waterston, John Meacham, Jim Clyburn and others weigh in on the subject. In the end, Bishop Michael Curry places what we’ve seen into context.

Subjects explored: Racial Justice, Sexual Identity, Military Service, Foster Care, Politics, Sexual Trafficking, Disability, Loss of Loved Ones, Refugees, Volunteering, Food Justice and more.



(Source: https://www.gracebasedfilms.org/a-case-for-love)

KNITTERS MINISTRY MEETING

Meets Monday, January 8 at 10:00 AM

Everyone is welcome! The first meeting of the New Year will be in the Conference Room.

ECW JANUARY MEETING

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11 AT 2:30 PM

In Harris Hall

Attention, ladies of St. Gregory's! You are warmly invited to join the ECW for its first meeting of the new year. Gather with us on Thursday, January 11th, at 2:30 PM in Harris Hall. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, plan, and share in the spirit of community with an amazing group of ladies who truly make a difference. If you have any questions, please email Karen Guzik at karenguzik@aol.com.

BROTHERS BREAKFAST

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14

Following the 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM Services

Join St. Gregory's in Harris Hall for the "Best Breakfast in Boca" on Sunday, January 14th! Breakfast will feature all your favorites lovingly cooked by the Brothers of St. Gregory's. It's the perfect opportunity to savor delicious food, engage in warm fellowship, and start your day with nourishment for both body and spirit. Join us on the 14th and let the comforting aromas and flavors bring a smile to your Sunday! The Brothers welcome any and all men who would like to be a part of this special group to contact Philip Hall at Hall.Philip@gmail.com.

ST. GREGORY'S DEDICATION SERVICE AND OPEN HOUSE ARE BEING RESCHEDULED

A New Date Will Be Announced Soon

Due to unforeseen delays in the arrival of the new pulpit and lectern from the manufacturer, we will need to reschedule our Dedication Service and Open House. We deeply appreciate your understanding and are eager to announce the new date for the dedication very soon. Thank you for your patience and support.

ST. GREGORY'S ANNUAL MEETING

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28 AT 11:45 AM

In Harris Hall

Join us for St. Gregory's Annual Meeting following the 10 AM service on Sunday, January 28. A light lunch will be served.

NOMINATIONS FOR VESTRY

Nominations Close on January 19

Nominations for the Vestry are now open! If you or someone you know would be an ideal candidate for the Vestry, please email your nomination to the church office at office@st-gregorys.com. by January 19.

GROWING OUR COMMUNITY DISCUSSION WITH FATHER ANDREW

Saturday, January 27 at 9:00 AM in Harris Hall

Father Andrew will be hosting a discussion about church growth, evangelism, and messaging in the new year on Saturday, January 27th at 9:00 AM in Harris Hall - and we'd love for everyone to be a part of it! Please join this important discussion!

CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES

A Place to Belong

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR CHRISTMAS BREAK.

CLASSES WILL RESUME ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2024.

Sunday, Jan 7

Beach Eucharist

6:30 am - South Beach Park

(Palmetto Park Rd and A1A in Boca)

Beach Clean Up

A beach cleanup will immediately follow the Beach Eucharist for those who can stay to help clean up our beloved beach!

"Mommy and Me" Informational Session

9:15 AM - In Harris Hall

If you're interested, please come for an info session, meet new friends, and make new connections!

Special New Year & Epiphany Gathering

for all Children

9:45 AM - Godly Play Room

This Sunday, we will have a special gathering with activities to welcome the new year and to celebrate the start of the Season of Epiphany for children in 5th grade and under. Teens are invited to assist and participate. Please come to the Godly Play room (upstairs, Harris Hall) at 9:45 am. We will conclude in time to join everyone for Communion. Many thanks to Silvia Hall for coordinating this event!

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2024

All classes resume!

9:10 am - Confirmation Class (Conference Room)

9:45 am - 3yrs - 5th grade (Designated Classrooms)

9:45 am - Youth Upper Room Time (Youth Room)

MLK DAY UNITY MARCH

AND CELEBRATION

Monday, January 15 - 9:45 AM - Noon

ADULT FORMATION

Classes and Formation at St. Gregory's

Wednesdays

8:00 AM - Men's Spirituality Hour (Zoom) 

Meeting Link

10:00 AM - The Reality of Being with Fr. Ben (Zoom) The Reality of Being is an ongoing group, initially composed of the fruit that has fallen out of a three-year Gospel of Thomas circle, and will meet via Zoom every Wednesday from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EST. If interested, contact Fr. Ben here.

6:00 PM - Rector's Bible Study with Fr. Andrew - Hybrid - On Zoom and In Person (In the Conference Room)

Meeting Link Meeting ID: 821 8193 8028 Passcode: 713673

Thursdays

1:00 PM - Women's Bible Study (Youth Room) - For information, contact Evelyn Anderson at ebunn@stanfordalumni.org  or Susan D’Ambrosio, sldambro@gmail.com

ST. GREGORY'S IS NOW LIVESTREAMING

TO THE HOMEPAGE OF OUR WEBSITE

stgregorysepiscopal.org

If you are unable to join us in person for services on Sunday, please join us online! In addition to livestreaming each Sunday's 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist to our Facebook page, St. Gregory's is now livestreaming the service to our homepage for your convenience. Click here to view the service on our homepage (it is located in the middle of the page) or click here to view it on Facebook.

PASTORAL CARE

St. Gregory's Is Here For You.

St. Gregory's provides a variety of support ministries that are here to support you. Our clergy, staff, and Stephen Ministers are here to answer your questions, pray with you, and for your pastoral needs. Contact the church office at 561-395-8285 or by email at office@st-gregorys.com. Learn more.

PRAYER

Daily Prayer and Prayer Requests

Join us in prayer. Click here to submit your prayer request. To pray for others, click here to view this week's prayer requests. If you'd prefer to receive a daily written prayer, click here to receive each day's word from Daily Prayer (a resource of Forward Movement).

JANUARY PRAYER CALENDAR

Please Pray for Haiti

Please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers. Click here to view the January 2024 Prayer calendar.

SFHP YEAR-END UPDATE

Please Continue Your Prayers and Support.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and generous financial support for the people of Bondeau, Haiti. For the last two years, it seemed unimaginable that the situation in Haiti could get worse; however, Haiti has faced the most difficult year yet during 2023. Read more.

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Dedicated Organizers and Volunteers Needed for Sunday Coffee Hour

Join the heartwarming tradition of fellowship at St. Gregory's by volunteering for our Sunday Coffee Hour following the 10:00 AM service. We're currently seeking volunteers to help coordinate and serve each week. If you're interested in being part of this important ministry, please contact Kay Holt at KHolt@st-gregorys.com to learn more about coffee hour.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteers are needed for various ministries.

Our Lay Eucharistic Visitor volunteer group is looking for members of our St. Gregory’s family to join them as they:

1. Deliver communion and enrich the religious experience of those unable to attend church due to illness or incapacity

2. Visit and spiritually support those in need of the comfort and companionship of St. Gregory’s

3. Maintain contact with those parishioners with whom they are assigned to assure them that they are still a part of our St. Gregory’s community.



If this type of ministry appeals to you, please contact David Cominole 561-376-9056 or email him at david.cominole@att.net for more information.

GIVING ST. GREGORY'S

Your Support Makes An Impact

Your support of St. Gregory's and our ministries makes our mission of Transforming Hearts and Community Through Jesus' Love a reality. Please click here to give online now. For more information, please email the Church Office or click on these links: Altar Flower Dedications, Capital Campaign, Meals with Meaning, Stewardship, and South Florida Haiti Project.

CONNECT WITH US

Engaging With St. Gregory's

We're grateful that you're part of St. Gregory's growing community! Visit our website at www.stgregorysepiscopal.org for more information or click the links and social media buttons below:

Contact Information

Volunteer Information

Download the St. Gregory's App - iOS, Google Play